Loose leaf binder



ay 1942- E..MURPHY 2,284,009

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed 001;. 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 INVENTOR.

mam/Wm BY 6 j Ma 26, 1942,.- E. MURPHY LOOSE-.LEAFiBINI JER Filed Oct. 1], 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet'2 d fiNVENTOR. a)? 2 F777)! Patented May 26, 1942 v i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE' Edward Murphy, Linden, N. J., assignor to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 11, 1940, Serial No. 360,718 0 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder and more particularly to a case member for inexpensive binders and a method of making the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder with an inexpensive case member made of a single sheet of material reinforced" at the back portion of the binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicient method of forming a case member for an inexpensive loose leaf binder. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail perspective view'of the reinforcing strip;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the sheet from which the case member is made, scored for folding;

Figure 3 shows the sheet of Figure 2 with the reinforcing member in place and the sheet folded over the reinforcing member;

Figure 4 shows the structure of Figure 3 with the ends of the reinforcing member bent down over the folded portion of the sheet;

Figure 5 shows the structure of Figure lwith the rivet holes punched and the back rounded;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 5 with a conventional sheet retaining member secured in place; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of Figure 6.

In the drawings, the referencenumeral 2 indicates a sheet of material such as paper, imitation leather, or any suitable fabric. The sheet 2 may be of leather, but it is generally preferred to use some cheaper material. The sheet must be flexible enough to be folded as hereinafter described, and substantial enough to serve as the covers of the completed binder. The sheet 2 is scored along parallel lines 3, 4 and 5. The score lines 3 define the back portion of the case member. The sheet 2 is preferably round cornered, as indicated at 6.

The sheet 2 is folded inwardly on the line 3 and outwardly on the line 4 to provide a pair of reentrant folds 1 and 8 disposed on the back portion 9. It is preferred to have the folds 1 and 8 abut each other, but a small gap therebetween will not adversely affect the completed binder. A reinforcing strip [0 is positioned on the back portion 9 under the folds 1 and 8, as indicated in Figure 3. The reinforcing strip I0 is longer thanthe case member, and its ends II and I2, which project beyond the edges of the case member, are bent inwardly over the folds l and 8 to clamp the folds against the reinforcing strip. The strip II] is preferably formed of thin sheet metal but may be formed of any suitable material. The back portion of the case member is apertured as indicated at l3 and I4 to provide a space for the rivets l5 by means of which a conventional sheet retaining mechanism I6 is secured to the back portion.

Although the case member may be used with a straight back, it is preferred to round the back as indicated in Figure 5. This rounding is accomplished by applying pressure to the back portion to curve it into the desired'configuration. If the sheet 2 is plain, it may be embossed or grained at the same time the back is rounded.

The score lines '5 are positioned adjacent the longitudinal edges of the sheet retaining mechanism when the mechanism is secured to the case .m-ember.

These score lines 5 facilitate bending the cover membersto enclose the contents of the binder.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction or method described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a case member comprising an integral sheet having a reinforcing member juxtaposed on a back portion -and a pair of reentrant folds covering said reinforcing member, the ends of said reinforcing member being bent over said reentrant folds.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a case member formed of an integral sheet of material provided with a rounded back portion, a reinforcing strip juxtaposed on said back portion, and a pair of reentrant folds formed integrally with said sheet overlying said reinforcing strip.

3. In a loose leaf binder, an integral case member comprising a sheet of material having a reinforcing strip juxtaposed over a portion thereof, and a pair of reentrant folds of said sheet overlying said reinforcing strip and held in position by the ends of said reinforcing strip.

4; In a loose leaf binder, a case member comprising a single sheet of material folded to provide a back portion of increased thickness, and

a metal strip of approximately the same width as said back portion clamping said folded portions 7 in proper position.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a case member comprisingna single sheet of material having portions folded over aback portion, and a reinforcing strip positioned between said back portion and said folded portions. 

